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Fuel water emulsion technology: Floating giant on a clean course

The Troisdorf company, Exomission Umwelttechnik, has developed a procedure with which diesel engines emit less pollutants. The tanker "TMS Rudolf Deymann" is already making its rounds with the fuel water emulsion technology from the Rhineland company – saving fuel and protecting both the climate and the residents.

A deep pipeline. The marine diesel sets itself in motion with a capacity of 1.2 megawatts. Slowly, the 110 metre long "TMS Rudolf Deymann" hazardous goods tanker gets under way and navigates the North Rhine-Westphalia inland waters. In doing so, the floating giant emits significantly less exhaust fumes than its peers: The fuel water emulsion technology (FWE) from Exomission Umwelttechnik makes it possible.

Engine for progress:

a clear reduction in internal motor soot formation

considerable reduction (up to -45%) in NOx formation

low space requirement and easy to retrofit

the solution reduces fuel consumption

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Photo: Reederei Deymann

The hazardous goods tanker "TMS Rudolf Deymann", built in 2013, was successfully equipped with the FWE and operates as a floating pipeline on NRW's inland waters. On average, fuel consumption has been reduced by around five per cent using this measure. Seen here on the Weser-Datteln Canal.

The Troisdorf engineering company's FWE has hit a nerve with the population: Navigation of the inland waters – despite its great significance for the location – is also viewed in a critical light. In the NRW harbour areas and high-traffic waterways in particular, transport ships pollute the air with fine dust and nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx). The FWE tackles this problem at the root: It improves fuel combustion in the engine compartment, thereby reducing the development of pollutants directly at the source. Not only does it ensure that fewer climate and air pollutants are generated. It also saves fuel, as the entire combustion process becomes more efficient.

Water mixture reduces pollutants

The FWE ensures – immediately before the injection process – that the diesel is mixed with water at a macro-molecular level (=emulsion). The water is evaporated explosively, tearing the fuel into many small drops and making the mixture even more homogeneous. The water reduces the peak combustion temperature, thereby reducing the development of nitrogen oxides. Thermal efficiency increases, soot formation decreases.

Many diesel engines could be more climate-friendly

The fuel water emulsion technology has the potential to make many diesel engines more climate-friendly: Almost all diesel engines can be retrofitted. Stationary cogeneration units or diesel rail vehicles can also use this technology. In addition to the climate and the operators, the citizens also benefit from the FWE: Residents along high-traffic routes are happy about the improved air quality in their surrounding environment. Not a bad outlook at all for anyone living near Europe's largest inland harbour in Duisburg or Europe's largest canal junction in Datteln.

Photo: Reederei Deymann

"Not only are we reducing the environmental and climate burdens of our ship, we are also saving about 5% on fuel too. In 2014, this came to approximately 20,000 litres of diesel"